“Good.I know there are wolves on shift right now, but that wouldn’t be good.”She turned her head and called out, “Skip!”
“Yah, Ny.”
“I need a zapper, a shrieker, and an alert.”
“Coming up.Piercing kit?”
“Yup.She needs them in her skin.”
Rose’s eyes got excited.“I get my ears pierced?”
Her mother frowned.“I don’t want her getting piercings at her age.It’s trampy.”
“Ma’am.She just got pierced in sixteen places.That files her under harlot.These are alerts that need skin contact and will alert if intent approaches.They are temporary and will leave without a trace.Sorry, Rose.”
Stomp chuckled.
Skip leaned over and gave her the plastic packets.
Nylora finished the last stitch and then took the little baggies.She held each one out for her audience.“This one is a zapper if anyone touches you with the intent to do violence or pain.It’s different.Ask your mother.”
The mother gasped.
Rose smiled.“Okay.So, a bug zapper.I am the attractant, and they are the bugs.”
“Correct.The jolt gets stronger the longer you are held.I am putting that in your left earlobe.This one is the shrieker.It’s basically a dog whistle that you can’t hear, but everyone around you will hear.Same stimuli, pain or violence.That goes in your other ear.This one goes in your nose.This is an alert.It calls the XIA, the social workers, and an ambulance.Same stimuli.We can’t stop them from trying, but we can show up and kick their butts.”
Nylora brought out her credentials and said, “I am licensed for protective piercings or tattoos.Just so you don’t think I am doing this for giggles.”
Rose’s mother was going to argue, but her new husband took her by the shoulders and he said, “Please continue, Medic.I know how serious this can be.”
He went to one side while Nylora cleaned and checked the placement of the tiny charms.
She put on a fresh pair of gloves, cleaned the ears and nostril again, and then she got to work.Six minutes later, the charms were locked into Rose’s body, and she looked at Nylora.“I can feel them.”
“Good.They will remain on until you are safe and shifted.You are in-between now, and that is a dangerous place.”
Rose nodded and smiled.“Do you know the dark fae medic on the internet?”
“The what?It has been a busy night.”She started to clean up.
“She is all black, silver eyes, designs in her skin, and huge wings.She flew someone to the hospital, but you could still see her uniform.Do you work with her?”
Skip was laughing as he leaned against the rig.
She gathered the garbage and the sharps container.“Skip, can you grab this for me so we can be on our way?”
Stomp helped Rose stand up.She looked at him like he was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.He might have been.He was super pretty.
Skip took care of the garbage and got it squared away while she rose from the low crouch she had been in for the last hour, and she stretched.Stomp and Snort looked at her, and she made a face.The social worker pulled up and walked to Rose immediately.
The woman inclined her head.“Thank you for spotting it, Medic Mills.”
“Night or day, I see it all.”She winked and took her kit, putting it back in the ambulance.She quickly restocked her kit, then locked it down, locked up the doors, and headed to the front of the rig.
“Onward, Buttercup, there is mayhem and fuckery afoot!”
They drove off, leaving the XIA team looking after them.
